Steel Building and a Steel Joint for a Steel Building

ABSTRACT

A steel building comprising a floor with a plurality of vertically positioned steel stanchions extending from the floor. The stanchions include a base end and a top end where an eave bracket is affixed to one of the stanchions opposite the base end. The eave bracket includes a beamed sleeve and a stanchion sleeve wherein the stanchion sleeve encloses the top end of the stanchion. A plurality of steel beams are included wherein the beams include an eave end and a peak end wherein the beam sleeve is affixed to and encloses the eave end of one of the beams. A plurality of steel peak brackets including first and second peak sleeves are included. Each peak sleeve is affixed to and encloses one of the peak ends of one of the beams. A roof is supported by the beams and the peak brackets while at least one wall is supported by the stanchions and the eave brackets.

CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a Non-Provisional Utility application which claimsbenefit of co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 60/764,058 filedFeb. 1, 2006, entitled “Steel Joint For A Steel Building”.

A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains materialthat is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has noobjection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent documentor the patent disclosure, as it appears in the U.S. Patent and TrademarkOffice patent file or records, but otherwise reserves all copyrightrights whatsoever.

All patents, patent applications, and publications described ordiscussed herein are hereby incorporated by reference in theirentireties

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to steel buildings and to asteel joint used in a steel building.

Buildings composed of steel are known in the art. U.S. Pat. Nos.3,952,472; 4,074,500; 4,603,532; 4,616,453; 4,697,397; 4,974,387;5,012,622; 5,234,279; 5,327,695; 5,688,069; 5,827,006; 5,839,239; and5,953,864 disclose examples of buildings composed of steel. Thesepatents disclose various joints and support structures comprising theframework of the buildings wherein the joints and framework includesteel components. These buildings lack the ability to span largedistances with the need for additional vertical support internal to thebuilding.

Several of these prior art patents disclose joints and connections inbuildings that are either designed to attach to wooden supportstructures or be implemented into concrete support structures. Thesetypes of connections will not function properly with the use of steelsupports and beams as the framework for a building. Additionally,several of these prior art patents disclose complicated configurationsused as the support structure or framework for the building. Forexample, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,697,397, 5,839,239, and 4,616,453 discloseintricate configurations used as support or framework for a building.These prior art systems are complicated to manufacture and assemble andresult in increase cost and labor time during these processes.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,974,387 is directed to a steel joint for roof trusses.This patent specifically discloses a light frame joint that is open onone side that facilitates welding within the joint. However, by its verynature these joints are designed to support light loads and are illequipped for large buildings or large expansions. Additionally, theopenness of the joint itself does not facilitate a proper support in alldirections for the truss portions of the roof or the studs of the wall.Additionally, interaction of the truss and studs within the joint doesnot facilitate proper force transference within the joint. This framestructure lacks intersecting support plates within the joint thatproperly distribute the weight and forces associated with the buildingand secure the structural framework of the building together.

What is needed then is a new steel building, steel joint for a steelbuilding and steel framework design to better facilitate the forcetransference within the building. The need items allow for longerexpansions within the building without the need for vertical supports,including internal vertical posts and pillars. This steel joint,framework and building should preferably be easily manufactured andassembled in order to reduce costs, manufacturing time, and assemblytime. This needed building, framework and associated joints are lackingin the art.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Disclosed herein is a steel building comprising a floor with a pluralityof vertically positioned steel stanchions extending from the floor. Thestanchions include a base end and a top end where an eave bracket isaffixed to one of the stanchions opposite the base end. The eave bracketincludes a beamed sleeve and a stanchion sleeve wherein the stanchionsleeve encloses the top end of the stanchion. A plurality of steel beamsare included wherein the beams include an eave end and a peak endwherein the beam sleeve is affixed to and encloses the eave end of oneof the beams. A plurality of steel peak brackets including first andsecond peak sleeves are included. Each peak sleeve is affixed to andencloses one of the peak ends of one of the beams. A roof is supportedby the beams and the peak brackets while at least one wall is supportedby the stanchions and the eave brackets.

A plurality of substantially U-shaped base members extends from thefloor wherein each stanchion is affixed to one of the base members.Alternately, a plurality of steel base brackets can extend from thefloor wherein each base bracket includes a base sleeve affixed to andenclosing a base end of one of the stanchions.

In the eave bracket the beam sleeve and the stanchion sleeve are spacedapart and positioned in intersecting planes. These intersecting planescan form an obtuse angle among the beam sleeve and stanchion sleeve.Additionally the eave bracket can include a support plate positioned ina support plane such that the support plane intersects both of theintersecting planes of the beam sleeve and the stanchion sleeve.

The eave bracket can further include a connection section that has theeave support plate, a first side substantially planar with one of thestanchions, a second side substantially perpendicular to one of thestanchions, a third side substantially planar with one of the beams, anda fourth side substantially perpendicular to one of the beams. The eavesupport plate intersects the first, second, third and fourth sides at anacute angle. Additionally, the first side can intersect the third sideat an angle approximately equal to or greater than 90 degrees while thesecond side intersects the fourth side at an angle approximately equalto or less than 90 degrees. The eave support plate can directly engagethe intersection of the first and third sides and the intersection ofthe second and fourth sides.

The first side can intersect the second side at approximately a 90degree angle while the third side can intersect the fourth side atapproximately a 90 degree angle. The support plate can be spaced fromthe intersection the first and second sides and the intersection of thethird and fourth sides.

The peak bracket can include a peak support plate while the peak sleevesinclude first and second armatures. Each first armature can be attachedto the first armature of the opposing peak sleeve at an obtuse anglewhile each second armature can be attached to the second armature of theopposing peak sleeve at an obtuse angle. The peak support plate canspace the pair of attached armatures. The peak support plate can bespaced from both peak sleeves or can directly engage both peak sleeves.

Additionally, the current disclosure includes a joint designed toconnect and support columns of a building. The joint is designed toallow a building to have a local cavity within the structure andincrease the distance that can be spanned between the sidewalls of thebuilding. A version of the joint can connect a vertical support, such asa stanchion, to the base structure. The base can be a poured concretesurface, ground, an alternate steel frame, or a combination of these orsimilar structures.

It is therefore a general object of the present invention to provide asteel building.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a steel frameworkfor a building.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a steel joint forthe steel framework of a building.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a joint thatencloses the ends of support structures of a building to secure thosesupport structures and facilitate the transference of force within thebuilding.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a steelframework that is easily manufactured and transported to the worksite.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a steel frameworkthat is easily assembled at the worksite.

Numerous other and further objects, features and advantages of thepresent invention will be readily apparent to those skilled in the artupon reading of the following disclosure when taken in conjunction withthe accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a cross sectional view of a building made in accordance withthe current disclosure.

FIG. 2 is an internal perspective view of a building made in accordancewith the current disclosure.

FIG. 3 is a view of an example of a column, eave bracket, and raftermade in accordance with the current disclosure.

FIG. 4 is an example of a peak bracket and rafters supporting a roofmade in accordance with the current disclosure.

FIG. 5 is an example of an alternate embodiment of peak bracketsenclosing the end of rafters made in accordance with the currentdisclosure.

FIG. 6 is a view of a U-shaped base made in accordance with the currentdisclosure.

FIG. 7 is a view of a U-shape bracket engaging a base column along withan eave bracket and rafter.

FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIG. 7. FIG. 8 shows an example of aninteraction of a peak bracket.

FIG. 9 is a view of an alternate embodiment of base and partial eavebrackets wherein the base and partial eave brackets have non-weldedattachments to adjacent parts.

FIG. 10 is a view similar to FIG. 9 showing embodiments of the currentinvention attach to adjacent portions using non-welded fasteners.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring generally now to FIGS. 1-10 a steel building is shown andgenerally designated by a numeral 10. The building comprises a floor 12,roof 14 and wall 16. The roof 14 and wall 16 are supported by a steelframe 18 wherein the steel frame includes stanchions 20, eave brackets22, beams 24 and peak brackets 26. The stanchions 20, which can also bedescribed as columns 20 include a base end 28 and a top end 30 whereinthe base ends 28 are positioned near the floor 12 and the columns 20extend from the floor 12.

The eave brackets 22 are fixed to the columns 20 opposite the base end28 and include a beamed sleeve 32 and stanchion sleeve 34. The stanchionsleeve 34, which can also be described as a column sleeve 34, enclosesthe top end 30 of the column 20. The beams 24, which can also bedescribed as rafters 24, include an eave end 36 and a peak end 38. Thebeam sleeve 32, which can also be described as a rafter sleeve 32, isaffixed to and encloses the eave end 36 of the beam 24. The peakbrackets 26 include first and second peak sleeves 40 and 42, whereineach peak sleeve 40 or 42 is affixed to and encloses the peak end 38 ofone of the rafters 24. The roof 14 is correspondingly supported by therafters 24 and the peak brackets 26 while the walls 16 are supported bythe columns 20 and eave brackets 22.

The building can further include a plurality of substantially U-shapedbase members 44 extending from the floor 12. Each column 20 can beaffixed to one of the base members 44. The base members 44 preferablyinclude rods 45 affixed to the bottom of the base members 44 andextending into the floor 12. The U-shaped base members 44 are preferablyused in connection with a poured concrete floor.

Alternately, a plurality of steel base brackets 46 can extend from thefloor 12. Each base bracket 46 can include a base sleeve 48 affixed toand enclosing the base end 28 of one of the columns 20. The base bracket46 is preferably used in connection with a floor 12 to which the basebracket 46 can be affixed by the use of fasteners, such as bolts and thelike, or welds. The base bracket 46 can include fastener openings 47 tofacilitate attachment of the base bracket 46 to a floor that acceptsfasteners, such as a steel framed floor.

In a preferred embodiment the rafter sleeve 32 and column sleeve 34 ofeach eave bracket 22 are spaced apart and positioned at intersectingplanes as seen in FIGS. 1, and 7-10. These intersecting planes formobtuse angles and facilitate transfer of the load from the roof 14,rafters 24, and peak brackets 26, to the columns 20. Alternatelydescribed, the rafter sleeve 32 and column sleeve 34 can each include anaxis such that the axes intersect and are positioned in a planecontaining the support plate 60.

The eave bracket 22 includes a connection section 50 wherein theconnection section 50 includes a first side 52, second side 54, thirdside 56 and fourth side 58. The first side is substantially planer withone of the columns, the second side is substantially perpendicular tothat column, the third side is substantially planer with one of therafters and the fourth side is substantially perpendicular with thatrafter. An eave support plate 60 intersects both of the intersectingplanes of the rafter sleeve 32 and column sleeve 34. Additionally, thesupport plates 60 intersects the first, second, third and fourth sides52, 54, 56, and 58 at an acute angle, as exampled by FIG. 3.

The first side 52 intersects the second side 54 at an approximately 90degree angle while the fourth side 68 intersects third side 56 atapproximately 90 degrees angle. The first side 52 intersects the thirdside 56 at an angle approximately equal to or greater than 90 degreeswhile the fourth side 68 intersects the second side 54 at an angleapproximately equal to or less than 90 degrees.

The support plate 60 can directly engage the intersection of the firstand third sides 52 and 56 and the intersection of the second and fourthsides 54 and 58. The support plate can be spaced from the intersectionof the first and second sides 52 and 54 and the intersection of thethird and fourth sides 56 and 58, as shown in FIG. 3. Alternately, asillustrated in FIG. 7, the support plate 60 can engage the intersectionof the first and second sides 52 and 54 and intersection of the thirdand fourth sides 56 and 58.

The peak bracket 26 further includes a peak support plate 62 used tofacilitate the transfer of the load to the rafters 24. The peak sleeves40 and 42 of the peak bracket 26 include first and second armatures 64and 66 wherein each first armature 64 is attached to the first armature64 of an opposing peak sleeve 40 or 42 at an obtuse angle. Each secondarmature 66 is attached to a second armature 66 of an opposing peaksleeve 40 or 42 at an obtuse angle. The peak support plate 62 spaces thepair of attached armatures 64 and 64 from the other pair of attachedarmatures 66 and 66. In a preferred embodiment the peak support plate 62is spaced from both peak sleeves 40 and 42 as illustrated in FIG. 5.Alternately, the peak support plate 62 can directly engage both peaksleeves 40 and 42 as illustrated in FIG. 4.

As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the steel frame 18 extends from thefloor 12 and supports the wall 16 and roof 14. Cross members 19 can spanbetween rafters 32 to facilitate further support of the roof 14. Invarious walls 16, doors 17, windows, and other formal building orificesadaptations can be implemented into the building 10.

As exampled in FIG. 3, the columns 20 and rafters 24 can be two supportstructures welded together, i.e. spot welded or welded along the entirelength. This weld can be substantially perpendicular to the width of thesupport structures that make up the columns 20 or rafters 24.Alternately this weld can be substantially perpendicular to the depth ofthe support structures that make up the columns 20 and rafters 24 asseen in FIGS. 4 and 7-10. The latter example of the support structurescomprising the columns 20 and the rafters 24 can be described as beingsubstantially C-shaped wherein the weld or spot weld fixes the two piecetogether. Each weld is preferably approximately 12 inches apart andcomprises approximately 4 inches of weld along the length of the seam.Other dimensions and expansions in these welds are possible and remainwithin the scope of the current invention.

As best illustrated in FIGS. 7-10 the sleeves are preferably welded tothe columns and rafters. Additionally the columns can be welded to abase member. These weld attachments can facilitate structural integrityin the frame and provide dispersion of the weight and load from thebuilding.

Alternately the brackets can be fastened to adjacent structures. Forexample the eave bracket can include a column sleeve portion bolted tothe rafter sleeve portion such that the support plate facilitatestransfer of the forces from the rafter portion to the column portion.Additionally, the peak bracket can include peak sleeves bolted togetherat the peak support plate to facilitate load transfers.

In a preferred embodiment the sleeves are approximately 12 inches longand encompass approximately 12 inches of the ends of either the rafteror columns.

The building can be described as a clear span pre-engineered steelbuilding or as a pre-engineered connection column and roof system andinclude brackets, or joints, designed to connect the support columns androof structures of a building. This connection facilitates weighttransference and allows a building to have open cavity within thefootprint of the building. Other joints can connect the vertical columnsto a floor through the use of base structures.

The floor is preferably poured concrete but can be other items such asthe ground, an alternate steel frame, or a combination of these orsimilar structures known in the art.

The joints can connect the vertical columns of the building to the roofstructures, which can also be described as beams or struts or trusses.The brackets near the peaks of the roof can include brace supports 68positioned to accept braces 70 that span between the peak supportplates, as seen in FIGS. 4 and 5. Additionally, the rafters 24 caninclude additional brace supports 68 to accept braces 70 for additionalsupport of the roof 14.

An advantage of the invention is that it allows open spans between thewalls of the building. Alternately stated, the framework of the currentinvention allows a building to be built that lacks internal supportextending down from the roof apart form the support columns around theperimeter of the floor. The span, or width, that can be achieved canvary greatly. The distance of a span between the walls of a buildingmade in accordance with the current disclosure can range fromapproximately 15 feet to approximately 80 feet without the need foradditional vertical support between those walls.

The brackets or joints of the current invention can be one or two piecesand can range in size. For example, in one embodiment, the joints canrange from a size of 6 inches by 8 inches while in other embodiments thejoints can range up to a size of 9 inches by 30 inches. Theseconnections can accommodate the spans of various buildings and reinforcethe structure and help distribute and disburse the load.

In various embodiments the connection pieces of the brackets establishangles that can vary. For example, the obtuse angle formed between thesleeves of the peak bracket can range from approximately 170 degrees toapproximately 90 degrees to accommodate the pitch in the roof of thebuilding being assembled as desired by the owner of the building. Forexample, the roof pitch can range from about a 1″ fall per foot to abouta 6″ fall per foot as desired. The various portions of the brackets canbe constructed of plate steel. In one embodiment the plate steel canrange from approximately 3/16 to 5/16 of an inch thick, depending on thesize of the connection and the desired building being built. Inalternate embodiments these ranges can increase upwards of a ½ inchthick.

The brackets are designed to enable two pieces of 12-16 gauge C channelto be used as the columns and the rafters. These dual C channels areinserted into the sleeves and have enough strength and rigidity incombination with the joints to enable construction of approximately15-80 feet internal span of the building from wall to wall without theuse or need for cable bracing or additional vertical supports as used inconventional steel buildings. Additionally this design of the column andrafter system in combination with the joints is approximately 33%lighter than conventional steel buildings. This allows a more costeffective product and eases the manufacturing and assembly process.

Thus, although there have been described particular embodiments of thepresent invention of a new and useful Steel Building and a Steel Jointfor a Steel Building, it is not intended that such references beconstrued as limitations upon the scope of this invention except as setforth in the following claims.

1. A steel building comprising: a floor; a plurality of verticallypositioned steel stanchions, the stanchions including a base end and atop end, the stanchion extending from the floor; a plurality of steeleave brackets, each eave bracket fixed to one of the stanchions oppositethe base end and including a beam sleeve and a stanchion sleeve, thestanchion sleeve enclosing the top end of the stanchion; a plurality ofsteel beams, the beams including an eave end and a peek end, the beamsleeve fixed to and enclosing the eave end of one of the beams; aplurality of steel peek brackets, the peek brackets including first andsecond peek sleeves, each peek sleeve fixed to and enclosing the peekend of one of the beams; a roof supported by the beams and the peekbrackets; and at least one wall supported by the stanchions and the eavebrackets.
 2. The building of claim 1, wherein the beam sleeve and thestanchion sleeve of each eave bracket spaced apart and positioned inintersecting planes.
 3. The building of claim 2, wherein theintersecting planes form an obtuse angle.
 4. The building of claim 2,wherein the eave bracket includes a support plate positioned in asupport plane intersecting both of the intersecting planes of the beamsleeve and the stanchion sleeve.
 5. The building of claim 1, wherein theeave bracket includes a connection section including a first sidesubstantially planer with one of the stanchions, a second sidesubstantially perpendicular to one of the stanchions, a third sidesubstantially planer with one of the beams, a fourth side substantiallyperpendicular to one of the beams, and an eave support plateintersecting the of the first, second, third and fourth sides at anacute angle.
 6. The building of claim 5, wherein the first sideintersects the third side at an angle greater than ninety degrees, thesecond side intersects the fourth side at an angle less than 90 degrees,and the eave support plate directly engages the intersection of thefirst and third sides and the intersection of the second and fourthsides.
 7. The building of claim 5, wherein the first side intersects thesecond side at approximately a ninety degree angle, the third sideintersects the fourth side at approximately a ninety degree angle, andthe eave support plate is space from the intersection of the first andsecond sides and the intersection of the third and fourth sides.
 8. Thebuilding of claim 1, the peek bracket further including a peek supportplate, wherein the peek sleeves of the peek bracket include a firstarmature and a second armature, each first armature being attached tothe first armature of the opposing peek sleeve at an obtuse angle andeach second armature being attached to the second armature of theopposing peek sleeve at an obtuse angle, the peek support plate spacingthe pair of the attached armatures.
 9. The building of claim 8, whereinthe peek support plate is spaced from both peek sleeves in the peekbrackets.
 10. The building of claim 8, wherein the peek support platedirectly engages both peek sleeves in the peek brackets.
 11. Thebuilding of claim 1, further including a plurality of substantiallyU-shaped base member extending from the floor, wherein each stanchion isfixed to one of the base members.
 12. The building of claim 1, furtherincluding a plurality of steel base brackets extending from the floor,each base bracket including a base sleeve fixed to and enclosing thebase end of one of the stanchions.
 13. The building of claim 1, whereineach eave bracket is welded to one of the stanchions and one of thebeams and each peek bracket is welded to at least two of the beams. 14.A steel building comprising: a plurality of vertically positioned steelcolumns, the columns including a base end and a top end; a steel eavebracket fixed to one of the columns opposite the base end, the eavebracket including a rafter sleeve and a column sleeve, the column sleeveenclosing the top end of the column; a plurality of steel rafters, therafters including an eave end and a peek end, the rafter sleeve fixed toand enclosing the eave end of one of the rafters; a plurality of steelpeek brackets, the peek brackets including first and second peeksleeves, each peek sleeve fixed to and enclosing the peek end of one ofthe rafters; and a plurality of steel base brackets, each base bracketincluding a base sleeve fixed to and enclosing the base end of one ofthe columns.
 15. The building of claim 14, wherein each eave bracket isexternally welded to one of the columns and one of the rafters, eachpeek bracket is externally welded to at least two of the rafters andeach base bracket is externally welded to one of the columns.
 16. Thebuilding of claim 14, wherein the eave bracket includes: a connectionsection including a first side substantially planer with one of thecolumns, a second side substantially perpendicular to one of thecolumns, a third side substantially planer with one of the rafters, afourth side substantially perpendicular to one of the rafters; an eavesupport plate intersecting the of the first, second, third and fourthsides at an acute angle; and wherein the first side intersects thesecond side at approximately a ninety degree angle and the fourth sideintersects the third side at approximately a ninety degree angle. 17.The building of claim 16, wherein the eave support plate directlyengages the intersection of the first and third sides and theintersection of the second and fourth sides.
 18. The building of claim16, wherein the eave support plate is space from the intersection of thefirst and second sides and the intersection of the third and fourthsides.
 19. The building of claim 14, the peek bracket further includinga peek support plate, wherein the peek sleeves of the peek bracketinclude a first armature and a second armature, each first armaturebeing attached to the first armature of the opposing peek sleeve at anobtuse angle and each second armature being attached to the secondarmature of the opposing peek sleeve at an obtuse angle, the peeksupport plate spacing the pair of the attached armatures.
 20. A steelbuilding comprising: a floor; a plurality of vertically positioned steelcolumns, each column extending from the floor and including a base endand a top end; a plurality of steel eave brackets, each eave bracketfixed to one of the columns opposite the base end and including a raftersleeve and a column sleeve, the column sleeve enclosing the top end ofthe column, each eave bracket including: a connection section includinga first side substantially planer with one of the columns, a second sidesubstantially perpendicular to one of the columns, a third sidesubstantially planer with one of the rafters, and a fourth sidesubstantially perpendicular to one of the rafters, the connectionsection separating the column sleeve from the rafter sleeve; an eavesupport plate intersecting the of the first, second, third and fourthsides at an acute angle; and wherein the first side intersects the thirdside at an obtuse angle, the second side intersects the fourth side atan acute angle, and the eave support plate directly engages theintersection of the first and third sides and the intersection of thesecond and fourth sides; a plurality of steel rafters, each rafterincluding an eave end and a peek end, the rafter sleeve fixed to andenclosing the eave end of one of the rafters; a plurality of steel peekbrackets, each peek bracket including a first sleeve, a second peeksleeve and a peek support plate, each peek sleeve fixed to and enclosingthe peek end of one of the rafters, each peek sleeve including a firstarmature and a second armature, each first armature being attached tothe first armature of the opposing peek sleeve at an obtuse angle andeach second armature being attached to the second armature of theopposing peek sleeve at an obtuse angle, the peek support plate spacingthe pair of the attached armatures; a plurality of steel base bracketsextending from the floor, each base bracket including a base sleevefixed to and enclosing the base end of one of the columns; a roofsupported by the rafters and the peek brackets; and at least one wallsupported by the columns and the eave brackets.